The podcast 🎙️
Niche Talks™
The niche brand strategy podcast for founders and career changers.
Real conversations with people who ditched the rulebook, chose specific over safe, and went from unclear to unmistakable.
#15 / Nicola Phillips
In this episode, we discuss your niche giving you a voice with Nicola Phillips. When you can be authentically yourself in what you do and create in your own way, you have a platform to speak up on issues that matter to you. An Award-Winning Chartered Landscape Architect, Nicola has built a people-focused business that puts humanity back into her practice. Known as the great landscape architect, Nicola has been vocal about the industry's gender pay gap. The response can be surprising when you put yourself out there.
Speaking up in your niche. No more hiding and no more apologising. Bringing your story into your niche can be a powerful force for change.
#14 / Ingrid Raphael
In this episode, we are talking about celebrating uniqueness with Ingrid Raphael. Based in her London skin clinic, Ingrid has narrowed her focus from generalist beauty to healing skin care. We discuss learning what you love and realising you need to break the rules to do the work the way you believe it should be done. Wanting to do things your own way. Questioning if you are doing something purposeful. Something that matters.
Find your niche by recognising your uniqueness and what you can offer that benefits others. Ingrid’s belief: we are not just skin deep; we are soul deep. When it comes to your niche, how deep can you go?
#13 / Auriel Majumdar
In this episode, we talk with Auriel Majumdar, Creative Coach, Supervisor, Consultant, and Educator, about carving your own path later in your career. The daughter of a first-generation immigrant father, an Indian doctor, Auriel did the dutiful thing for years, until her mid-40s, when she didn’t, and took the chance to shift her career. At 61, she is now expanding even more into that space. We talk about getting started. The beginning is a tricky place, and how you make that leap.
Niching down to build on that expertise. Build your body of work, your confidence, and the trust of the people you work with. This is a long game, and you can make it fun.
#12 / Generation Press
In this episode, we are talking about doing things differently and standing out as a progressive in your industry with Paul Hewitt and Anand Gilks of Generation Press. Paul is a fourth-generation printer and the fourth-generation owner and Managing Director, looking to do things differently. A humble visionary and natural disruptor, Paul speaks modestly about how he unconsciously carved a different path. Anand Gilks came fresh from uni in 2013, bringing his energy to share the vision and principles, and finding his place.
Paul and Anand are another perfect example of finding your niche, finding your people, and standing out in a traditional industry.
#11 / Polly Lavarello
In this episode, we are talking about the power of niche for your business with Polly Lavarello. Becoming self-employed as a single mum of two kids under the age of three, Polly didn't always have a cushy business. Living on benefits, life was anything but cushy. Something needed to change. Passionate about marketing, Polly went and found her place in the online space. She slowed down to speed up. Got super intentional. Got crystal clear on her ‘strengthiest strengths’, who she wants to serve and HOW. Polly also hosts the Make More Money Podcast.
We discuss the drive to help women create businesses that give them space and give them the permission slip to be fully themselves – and why both are vital parts of the niching
#10 / Sally Mansfield
In this episode, we're getting some doing-your-own-thing and niching-down insights from Sally Mansfield. Solo parent of a 14-year-old; owner and founder of Manners London; lifelong hustler (on a quest for rest); poem scribbler; word lover; joy seeker; designer & survivor. Sally created the brand out of necessity, tenacity, and a love for sisterhood: ‘To lift you up when all the women in you are tired.’ Sally’s entrepreneurial spirit is contagious, and her love for community and the power of sisterhood runs deep.
From customers, fans, and collaborators to sewists, Manners London is as much about the community it creates as the clothes. Find your niche, find your people.
#09 / Dave Buonaguidi
In this episode, the season 2 opener, we come out of the gate with an adman turned artist, David Buonaguidi, aka The Real Hackney Dave. Son of Italian immigrant parents. After school, David went into Advertising. And what a career. Heading up and co-founding several acclaimed creative agencies, creative directing at Channel 4 and then back to agencies. But not all that glitters is gold. David talks about how things really felt, how he has always fought for different and what has led David back in the art studio and waking up in the mornings fired up.
The niche is in your values, and this conversation explores how pushing to do things differently isn't always easy, yet the drive always leads to new adventures.
#08 / Charlie Gladstone
In this episode, Penny is getting her niche vibe on with Charlie Gladstone. A creative entrepreneur with over 33 years’ experience of running his own businesses, mainly in retail, hospitality, events and food.
Employing over 100 people across a host of small businesses, all of which were founded by and are owned by Charlie. His specialism is creativity and empowerment, hiring, and retaining great people through strong but gentle leadership. His absolute passion is enabling people to thrive in a productive, happy and profitable environment. Many on his team have worked for him for over 15 years, and some for 25 to 33 years. His businesses have won multiple awards and earned Cool Brand status three times. A father of six, author of two books, podcaster with 70 episodes, business coach, enthusiast, mentor, and creative thinker.
How do you/can you niche down when you are a multi-hyphenate – when you are someone who does many things? Charlie does many things. Yet his whole approach is niche, and that is what we talk about.
#07 / Kate Wadsworth
In this episode, Penny gets her niche vibe on with her sister, Kate Wadsworth. After 20 years as a teacher, Kate stepped out of the classroom 18 months ago and started on a path to positively disrupt education as we know it.
What If Education?® founder Kate is on a mission to make education happier, more relevant, and less stressful by rethinking learning. I wanted to speak with Kate about making a recent big, bold move after being so sure for so long that the classroom was where she belonged.
We discussed how, when making a big change, it's not quitting; it’s following your values and your niche.
#06 / Debbie Edwards
In this episode, Penny is getting her niche vibe on with Debbie Edwards. A strategist, entrepreneur, speaker, investor, and performance coach who works globally with entrepreneurs, CEOs, and senior executives. Debbie has years of experience in growth strategy and cultural change, working with teams and individuals on strategic performance through gentle leadership.
We talk about how niching lets you do what you want, your way.
#05 / Paulette Eldridge
In this episode, Penny is getting her niche vibe on with Paulette Eldridge. Health, fitness, and executive coach. Paulette brings lived experience from the corporate executive world, raising a family of three, and changing careers at 50. She knows firsthand what's possible, and what it takes, to make these changes later in life.
We discuss the steps she took to create this new path for herself at 50 and how niching down has deepened her work with clients.
#04 / Suzy Darke
In this episode, Penny is getting her niche vibe on with Suzy Darke. A somatic coach, Suzy helps smart, sensitive women create brave change in their lives and businesses. Brave change, gently. ‘I love that my practice blends the thinky, cognitive coaching tools that my clients’ smart, smart brains appreciate. AND the body-based, beyond-words somatic coaching that helps them to reconnect with their smart, smart bodies.’
We discuss finding your own path as a highly sensitive person, finding spaces that fit, often creating your own, and how our wiggly paths often come full circle as we reach mid-life.
#03 / Sara Dalrymple
In this episode, Penny is getting her niche vibe on with sales and business mentor Sara Dalrymple. With sales experience spanning both corporate and small business, Sara helps clients grow their business without selling their soul. Her vibe is very much about sales without the ‘ick’ and making your business suit your lifestyle - not the other way around.
We discuss how, after climbing the corporate finance ladder, she realised her sales superpowers were needed directly for women in business. We also discuss niching down to improve your sales.
#02 /Dani Molyneux aka Dotto®
In this episode, Penny is niching down with type-twisting artist and designer Dani Molyneux, founder of Dotto® – a studio, a store, a person and more. Working with clients who have something to say, Dani's work uses playful type to deliver powerful messages. Bringing change through words, purposeful play and typography for thought.
We discuss trusting your gut, holding your nerve, and playing the long game to find your niche.
#01 / Jim Marsden
In this episode, Penny goes niche with analogue film photographer Jim Marsden. Born In The Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, Jim grew up loving the landscape and curious about people. Clients range from The Do Lectures and Paynter Jackets to BMW. He’s also the eye behind this site’s photography, including the infamous ‘rock’ shot from the last website, the one that ended up everywhere: site, press, the lot.
‘I always thought that I wanted to do something that was slightly different and to do it in a way that made me really happy. With a process that just felt right – that just made sense to me.’ – Jim Marsden
